Page 123 of When He Protects

Of course, he would have a quick getaway available for them. Typical.

But Esme shook her head even as she patted his arm. “He’s the one for me.”

“You love him?”

“With all that I am.” With every scheming part of herself. Every hopeful part, too.

Her father inclined his head. His guards—always present—opened the doors for them. Her eyes went straight for the man at the end of the decorated aisle. Tyler.

She walked forward. Her feet brushed over the rose petals that had been left behind by Kady Jo. The little girl and her mother had been invited to the wedding. Esme had a soft spot for them both.

Tyler didn’t wait for her to come to him. He bounded toward her. Met her halfway down the aisle.

Kissed her right there.

He was learning to not always follow the rules. She loved that about him. No, she loved everything about him.

Esme would never forget how she’d felt when she saw him rushing to the rescue in that horrid basement. The instant she’d known for certain that death hadn’t taken him from her.

The world started spinning again.

Together, she and Tyler walked the rest of the way down the rose-petal-covered aisle. Then it was time for the vows. To swear that she’d love him forever.

Spoiler alert, she would.

Esme released a soft breath as they faced each other.

And that is how even a villain gets her happy ending.

All she had to do was marry a hero. One with a bit of his own dark side.